The Boston Tea Party, America’s new libertarian political alternative, is on the move. Since the beginning of June, the Internet-based political party has nominated a presidential ticket, chartered affiliate parties in eight states, and is now in the process of endorsing candidates in states where it lacks its own down-ticket ballot access.
The party’s first slate of candidate endorsements includes Phil Rhodes for Lieutenant Governor of North Carolina and Morey Straus for State Representative in New Hampshire. Both candidates are running on the Libertarian Party’s ballot line in their states.
Also endorsed is the party’s only sitting elected public official, Jim Y. Casarjian-Perry. Casarjian-Perry, a Town Meeting Representative in Billerica, Massachusetts, is seeking election to the town’s planning board.
“As a new party, we have our hands full seeking ballot access for the presidential ticket and building active organizations in the states this year,” says Boston Tea Party chair Jim Davidson of Lawrence, Kansas. “Endorsing qualified independents and candidates of other parties is a win-win proposition — it helps us build the party and it hopefully helps those candidates gain additional support for their efforts.”
The party’s national committee expects to endorse additional candidates between now and the November general election. The party requires candidates seeking its endorsement to certify that they support the party’s one-sentence platform: “The Boston Tea Party supports reducing the size, scope and power of government at all levels and on all issues, and opposes increasing the size, scope and power of government at any level, for any purpose.”
The party’s presidential candidate, Charles Jay of Florida, will appear on the November ballot in Colorado. The party expects to achieve ballot access in several additional states. It has recently chartered affiliate organizations in Alabama, Colorado, Florida, Indiana, Michigan, Nevada, New Mexico and Texas.
The Boston Tea Party of Indiana is currently seeking candidates to endorse for the 2008 general election. If you are interested in receiving the BTPIN’s endorsement, join the Boston Tea Party at www.bostontea.us and contact our affiliate at btp.indiana (at) gmail.com.
1 response so far ↓
Jim Davidson // July 12, 2008 at 6:51 am
Would you guys like to help us? The Indiana state affiliate could review candidates in your state who agree with our smaller gov’t platform. Send us a list when you have some to endorse, and we’ll issue a press release. It seems like a great way to further the cause of liberty. Candidates may be from any party, as long as they don’t want any bigger government.